An overgrown park is again under threat after councillors gave permission for a house to be built on it.

The land in Hackney Close is owned by Hertsmere Borough Council. At an Elstree and Borehamwood planning committee meeting last Thursday, councillors approved plans for a four-bedroom house on the site.

The committee said if the council sold the land for redevelopment, some money should be used to provide another park in the area for younger children.

Neighbouring resident Brian Kaye, who spoke against the proposal, said: “I am fed up with this council. If it cannot sell the land straight away, that piece of land is going to be left in that mess instead of the parks department doing their job properly and keeping it maintained as they should have done all this time.”